EAST MAUI: THE ROAD TO HANA - Maui: Including Molokai and Lanai - page 417

Don't rush Hana.
Devote a full day to the experience. Minimum. You're visiting arguably the most beau-
tiful place on earth; allocate at least an entire day. Two or three days are even better. Don't
expect to breeze through and just see it quickly and don't expect to be back on the other
side of the island to make dinner reservations. If you're staying in Ka'anapali or Wailea, it
will take you 3.5 hours just to reach the Pools of 'Ohe'o (aka Seven Sacred Pools). That's
not including any stops—and stops are what make the journey worthwhile.
No one should ever have to endure a journey to Hana without knowing exactly where
the next waterfall, hiking trail, ATM, food cart, or restroom is going to be. Since sights can
spring up in an instant—and making a U-turn just isn't possible— be prepared. A mile-
by-mile rundown of what you'll see along the side of the road follows, with specific sights
and places worth stopping to linger described in greater detail.
• Mile Marker 7: Start in the town of Pa'ia, located around mile marker 7 on the Hana
Highway (Hwy. 36). It's worth stopping to see some of the sights in town, many of
which are located on Baldwin Avenue.
PA'IA
Mantokuji Soto Zen Mission
On the eastern side of town—in the direction of Hana—you'll find the Mantokuji Soto
Zen Mission (253 Hana Hwy., 808/579-8051, www.mantokujimauitemple.org ) on a scenic
parcel a quarter mile out of town. Established in 1906, this temple is best known for its
oceanfront cemetery and the 100-year-old bell hanging out front. Both the bell and a war
memorial stupa were delivered from Japan in 1912, during a time when the Asian nation
was emerging from wars with both Russia and China. When Japan went to war with the
United States 40 years later, the reverend of the temple was detained as an enemy alien
and sent to a Japanese internment camp on the mainland. In 1946, part of the cemetery
and some of the temple grounds were destroyed in one of the largest tsunamis to ever hit
Hawai'i. The temple has surived these hardships. Visitors are encouraged to attend regu-
larly scheduled zazen meditations and periodic Obon festivals.
Maui Dharma Center
Above the parking lot by Mana Foods, perhaps the most curious of all of Pa'ia's sights is
the temple at the Maui Dharma Center (81 Baldwin Ave., 6:30am-6:30pm daily) which
rises from Pa'ia like an out-of-place white spire. The Dalai Lama himself gave his bless-